Impacts & Accomplishments

Little steps add up to big impacts!

Since creation in 2012, the Marine Debris Citizen Science Program has made quite a splash! Volunteers have logged over 131,000 items and leapt to first place and whale status in the top tracker ranking.

Thanks to the volunteers, we have also learned that plastics make up the clear majority of debris found on Jekyll Island and surrounding beaches and been able to publish two peer reviewed publications! Of plastics, cigarette butts were found more readily than any other type of plastic.

Additionally, the GSTC has also become home to two new exhibits highlighting the threats of marine debris.

To learn more about marine debris, our impacts and participants in the citizen science program, check out this presentation.